Nov 4 Lecture: Water Pollution

Question 1

how does the extraction of bitumen (synthetic crude oil) impact water

Answer 1

• bitumen extraction requires water
• surface mines have to be dewatered first: altered ground
• bitumen separation generates OSPW (oil sands production waters)

Question 2

OSPW=

Answer 2

oil sands production waters

= a complex mixture of chemicals which is stored in tailing ponds (it’s toxic- can’t be put right into river)

Question 3

OSPW has elevated levels of ____ ___ and ___

Answer 3

naphthenic acids

ions

Question 4

What did Dr. Erin Kelly and Dr. David Schinder find?

Answer 4

oil sands were emitting pollutants (looked at amount of coal in snow)
- gov and industry denied this was happening for years